Sheet-metal-shaping means.



L. BAUHOTH. SHEET METAL SHAPING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, I914- 1,13,53.

Patented May 16, 1916.

' SSHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES:

L. BAUROTH.

SHEET METAL SHAPING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY16,I914.

I 1 ,1 83,523. Patented May 16, 1916.

,. s SHEETSSHEET 2.

2/ l w J 3,3 3 5 ;7/ 5i WITNESSES: 3, K INVENTOR.

L. BAUR'OTH,

SHEET METAL SHAPING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1914.

183,523, Patentd May16,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W1TNES5E5I- INVENTOR.

@NTTEU TATE PATENT @FFTQE.

LEONHARID BAUROTH, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES H. WACKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-METAL-SI-IAPING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONI-IARD BAUROTI-I, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Sheet-Metal-Shaping Means; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to drawing or shaping machines for sheet metal or other sheet goods capable of retaining a shape into which they may be formed.

The object of my invention is the provision of simple, efficient and improved mechanism of this character wherein a movable plunger part produces a differential reciprocation of a blank-holder and a movable shaping die or means, whereby theblankholder precedes the shaping means in its engagement of a work blank and then pauses or dwells during the work drawing movement of said means, thus holding the work and preventing a wrinkling thereof during the drawing operation.

A further object of my invention is the rovision of a mechanism of this character, the blank-holder and shaping means of which act in a plane which intersects the plane of the force moving said blank-holder and shaping means.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a mechanism or mechanisms for the shaping of curved or irregular pieces of work, such, for instance, as automobile fenders, cycle fenders, or the like, in a single operation, whereby to render the manufacture of such parts more rapid and eflicient.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, two preferred embodiments thereof for the forming of respective work pieces into difierent shapes are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of one form of the invention taken on the line m m in Fig. 2, with a part broken away,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the mechanism taken on the line 00, m in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another form of the invention, with the plunger or actuating means removed and with parts broken away and adapted for use in a double acting press. Fig. 41 is a section on the line y, y in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a .view similar to Fig. 4 adapted for use in a single acting press, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line y, y in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 designates a reciprocally movable head, which may be attached to or constitute a part of an operating plunger or other moving agent. Mounted on a bed or suitable support 2 below or in the path of move ment of the head 1 is a bed-plate 3 to which is fixed a stationary die 4. This die is the matrix die, in the present instance, and has its cavity or shaping surface opening transversely of the plane of movement of the head 1 and elongated in segmental form to adapt it for the shaping of mud guards for bicycles, motorcycles, or the like, segments of wheel rims, or for any other purpose for which it may be adapted or appropriate. It is to be understood, however, that the die 4 is not limited to any particular shape, either longitudinally or transversely thereof, or to the forming of any particular article.

Mounted on the bed-plate 3 for sliding movements toward and away from the work piece of the die 4 in an intersecting plane to the plane of movements of the head 1 is a blank-holder .5 having the blank-holding edges 5 in register with the respective marginal edges of the die 4 to cooperate therewith to grip interposed edge portions of a work blank 6. The edge or portion of the blank-holder 5, which is adjacent to the working face of the die 4, is recessed intermediate of the work gripping edges 5 thereof, as indicated at 7, and mounted, in the present instance, in the recess or socket 7 for reciprocatory movements toward and away from the die 1 relative to the blank-holder, are a plurality of sections or blocks 8, which cooperate to form a drawing or shaping die, the outer or working face of which is complemental to the forming surfaces of the die 4:.

The working face of the die 4 and the surface of the blank-holder 5 and movable die 8 are, in the present instance, of circular or segmental form and the die blocks or sections 8 are therefore of sector form and adapted to have radial work shaping and retracting movements. The blocks 8 laterally abut against each other when in retracted position and are slightly spaced when at the limits of their outstrokes. It will, of course, be understood that the movable die can be made of a single piece or in any number of sections, as desired, but it is found preferable in practice to form the same of a plurality of comparatively small sections, substantially as shown, as a more even and efficient drawing of a work piece is thereby accomplished. The blank-holder 5, in the present instance, is shown as having a removable top plate or portion 5* which is secured to the bed portion thereof by screws 5 or in any other suitable manner and closes the top of the socket 7.

Projecting downward from the head 1 and working in registering sockets 9 in the blank-holder 5, at the rear of the socket 7 therein, are, in the present instance, a plurality of arms 10, which have their lower end portions inclined in relation to the direction of movement thereof and in thrust contact with complemental surfaces of the sockets 9, whereby reciproeatory movements of such arms will have a camming action on the blank-holder to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in a plane which intersects the plane of movement of the arms, as is clearly apparent by reference to Fig. 2. A hardened thrust block 1.1 forms a part of the forward wall of each socket 9 to receive the work gripping thrust of the respective arm. Each socket 9 is in register with a socket 12 in the bed 2 and bed-plate 3 for the lower end of the respective arm 10 to work into, and the upper portion of the rear side of the wall of the socket 12 and is provided with a thrust block 13, which, in the present instance, is attached to the bed-plate 3 for receiving the bearing thrust of the lower end portion of the associated arm 10 in opposition to the thrust block 11, thus bracing the lower ends of the respective arms 10 against rearward movements during a blank clamping action of the blank-holder. It will be noted that the lower or outer end portions only of the arms 10 are inclined relative to the plane of movements thereof whereby such arms will be caused to move the blank-holder to blank clamping position during the inward portion of a downstroke of the head and during the first portion of the upstroke thereof.

A set of arms 14, which are similar to the arms 10, project downward from the head 1 and in advance of the arms 10 and through registering slots or openings 15 in the upper wall of the blank-holder socket 7 and openings 16 in the die blocks 8, with their lower ends working through the bottom wall of the blank-holder socket 7 and into registering openings 17 in the subjacent parts. The arms 14 are inclined rearwardly for the greater portion of their lengths and the opening 16 of the die blocks 8 are inclined in corresponding relation, whereby the die blocks are forced outward into the matrix die 4 by wedge action of the arms 14 thereon upon a downstroke of the head 1, and are restricted within the blank-holder 5 upon an upstroke of said head. A hardened thrust block 18 is preferably carried by each die block 8 to receive the outward thrust'of the associated arm 10 thereon, and a similar block 19 is disposed in the rear wall of the bed-plate opening 17 to receive the opposing thrust of the arm thereof. It will be noted that the arms 10 and 14 have the side surfaces 20 thereof, which coact with the stationarythrust blocks 13 and 19, respectively, straight in the plane of movement of such arms and of a length equal to the stroke of the arms.

In Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, I have illustrated a mechanism which is preferably used when work pieces of irregular form or other than true arcs of a circle in longitudinal section are to be formed, the mechanism shown being particularly designed for making a special form of automobile fender. In this mechanism, 21 designates a stationary bedplate, which is provided in its top with a socket 22 in which the blank holding and shaping parts are mounted, the side 28 of such socket forming the fixed die of the mechanism and being shaped to conform to the desired shape of the article to be formed. In the present instance, the inner or article shaping surface of the wall 28 is of suitable shape for the forming of a portion of an automobile fender and is of other than true circular form having successive portions thereof struck from different centers, or if desired parts thereof may be straight in longitudinal section, as the desired shaping of the article may require.

The blank-holder of the mechanism comprises a main body part 214- which is mounted between suitable guide-ways 25 for movements toward and away from the stationary die 23, and projecting forward from the upper and lower edges of the body part 24 are the vertically spaced wedge-like nose portions 26 and .27, respectively, the narrow outer end portions of which, in the present instance, form portions of the work engaging and holding parts of the blank-holder. Extensions or side wings 28 and 29 are attached to the opposite side edges of each blank-holder part 26, 27 in a manner to retain said extensions or wings in edge abutment with the respective parts and to per- :mit'relative longitudinal sliding movements of the coacting edge portions. The connection preferably employed is shown in Fig. 5 as comprising a key 30 which is fixed to the edge of one part and has interlocking sliding engagement with the other coacting part. This connection may be changed, however, as desired. The extensions or wings 29 for each blank-holder portion 26, 27 cooperate with the free ends of such portions to conform to the respective registering upper and lower edge portions of the die 23 to hold the edges of a blank firmly to such die during the shaping operation. The ends of the extensions 28 work against an outwardly tapering guide portion 31 of the respective side wall of the socket 22 while the outer end portions of the extensions or wings 29 work against outwardly tapering guide portions 32 on the opposite side walls of the socket, the coacting ends of said extensions 28 and '29 being tapered accordingly, as shown. When the blank-holder body 24 and fixedly connected nose portions 26, 27 are retracted from blank holding position the extensions 28 and 29 are retracted therewith from blank holding position due to the sliding key connection of such extensions with the parts 26 and 27 and the provision of the tapered guides 31 and 32, and when the blank holder body is moved forward to blank holding position the extensions 28 and 29 are correspondingly moved outward to blank holding positions, as will be apparent. The upper and lower edge portions of the die 23 with which the blank holding portions of the blank-holder cooperate are of any suitable form and construction and may be integral with the wall 23 or composed of parts removably attached thereto as desired.

The movable die of the set is mounted in the space 33 between the upper and lower work gripping portions of the blank-holder for movements toward and away from the die 23 relative to the blank-holder and is composed of a plurality of sections, in the present instance three in number, and corresponding to the sections forming the embracing parts of the blank holder. The cen ter or control section of the movable die is designated 34 and the two side sections 34 and 34 The abutting side edges of these sections are oined together by keys 35, or in any other suitable manner, for relative longitudinal sliding movements and the outer ends of the two outer sections 34 and 34 work against the tapered guide-ways 31 and 32, respectively, the same as the blankholder wings or sections 28 and 29. It is thus apparent that a rearward movement of the center die section 34 will effect a rearward or retracting movement of the adjoining side sections 34 and 34 and that aforward movement of the center die section will force the two side sections thereof outward into shaping cooperation with the stationary die 23.

When this mechanism is used in connection with a press of the double acting type, the movements of the blank-holder and movable die are controlled by relatively movable members 36 and 37, respectively (Fig. 4) which are attached to the proper reciprocally movable plunger parts of the press, as is well understood in the art. The member 36 is provided, in the present instance, with a pair of downwardly projecting fingers 36 and 36 the finger 36 being intended to project down in the bed-plate recess 22 between the rear wall thereof and the rear end of the blank-holder part 24, while the finger 36 is intended to project into a registering recess 38 in the blank-holder part 24. The coacting portions of the finger 36 and blankholder are downwardly and rearwardly inclined, as shown in Fig. 4, to cause the finger when lowered to impart a forward movement to the blank-holder, and the rear, side of the finger 36 has thrust bearing contact with the rear wall of the bed-plate socket 22 to oppose the thrust of such finger on the blank-holder, as shown. The finger 36 inclines rearwardly under the correspondingly inclined rear wall of the socket 38 and upon an upward movement of the member 36 coacts with such socket wall to effect a retraction or rearward movement of the blankholder. The bearing surfaces of the fingers 36 and 36 and the parts with which they coact are preferably faced with hardened wear plates, as indicated.

The member 37 controls the movements of the movable die section 34, and for such purpose has its lower end portion provided with a rearwardly inclined finger 37 which projects through a registering slot or opening 39 in the top portion 26 of the blank-holder and an opening 40 in the center die section, with its lower end working through an open ing 41 in the bottom portion of the blankholder 27 and into a registering opening in the bed-plate 21. Upon a down stroke of the finger 37 its forward face has inclined coaction with a correspondingly inclined portion of the forward wall of the die opening 40 to force the die section forward, and upon an upstroke of such finger the rear side thereof has inclined engagement with a registering inclined portion of the opening 40 to effect a retraction of the die as will be apparent. The lower end portion of the finger 37 has its rear side in sliding contact with a stationary thrust plate 42 of the bedplate 21 to oppose the forward dieanoving thrust of the finger.

The movements of the members 36 and 37 are timed so that when lowered the member 36 first acts to force the blank-holder forward into work-gripping position and then rests during the wo-rk-shapin g stroke of the movable die, which stroke is actuated by a lowering of the member 37. The work having been shaped, the members 36 and 37 are raised to eifect a retraction of the blankholder and die to release the formed work and to permit the insertion of a blank between the stationary die 23 and movable shaping parts preparatory to another operation.

In Fig. 6 the mechanism is shown as being adapted for use in connection with a press of the single acting type and the actions of the blank-holder and movable die are controlled in substantially the same manner as indicated in Fig. 2, except that a single finger for controlling the movements of the movable die is employed. In this form of the invention 45 designates a reciprocatory plunger head and 46 and 47 the blank-holder and die operating members, respectively, which depend therefrom. The member at is preferably provided with the two fingers l6 and 4-6 the former of which works into the bed-plate recess 22 between the rear wall thereof and the rear end of the blank-holder part 24, while the finger 16 projects into a registering recess 48 in the blank-holder part 24:. Coaction of the finger 46 with the blank-holder is such that the blank-holder will be forced forward during a portion of the downward movement of the member 46 and will then stand at rest in blank-holding position during the remainder of the down stroke of said member so that the action is similar to that described in connection with Fig. 2. The action of the member 47 on the movable die is the same as described in connection with Fig. 4.

It is evident, with all of the constructions illustrated, that during a down and up stroke of the respective control parts, or a cycle of movements thereof, both the blank-holder and movable die move in planes intersecting the plane of movement of, the control parts, and that the blankholder moves to clamp the marginal edge portion of a work blank to the stationary die and then dwells or stands at rest during the blank shaping movement of the movable die, after which the blank-holder and movable die are moved rearwardly to release the work.

This invention was originally claimed broadly in a copending application filed by me on April 2 1-, 1913, Serial No. 763,235, which application is now restricted to the construction of the invention disclosed by Figs. 1 and 2 herein.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the shaping of work in any particular form or to any particular arrangement, form or construction of the parts, as work of numerous forms may be made and the arrangement and construction of the parts changed or modified to suit the shape of the work-required.

forming die, and wedge means movable in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of both said blank holder and die and operable to impart relative movements thereto.

3. In combination, a blank-holder and a forming die, and separate wedge means aeting on said blank-holder and die to impart relative reciprocatory movements thereto.

4- In combination, a blank-holder, a forming die, means for movably acting on the die to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in one plane, and means for acting on the blank-holder to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in one plane and to cause it to dwell during portions of the movements of said die, said die and blankholder moving means having their operating movements in planes at an angle to the planes of movement of said blank-holder and die.

5. In combination, a blank-holder, a die working in a part thereof, and means movable in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of said blank-holder and die and operable during such movements to impart relative movements in one plane to the blank-holder and die.

6. In combination, a blanlcholder, a die working in a part thereof, operating means movable in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of said blank-holder and die and having separate parts, one for acting on the blank-holder and one for acting on the die to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in a single plane and to cause the blank-holder to stand at dwell during a portion of the movements of the die.

7. In combination, a blank-holder, a plurality of movable die sections, and means operable to act on both said blank-holder and die sections to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in one plane only and to cause the blank-holder to dwell during a portion of the movements of the die sections.

8. In combination, a blank-holder, a plurality of die sections movable relative to the blank-holder, and means working in a plane at an angle to the planes of movement ofsaidblank-holder and die sections and acting thereon to impart reciprocatory movements thereto in the same angle relative to the movement of said means and to cause said holder and die in the same plane and to cause the holder to dwell during a portion of the die movements, and means coacting with said first means to oppose the work gripping and shaping pressures of the blank-holder and die thereon.

10. In combination, a blank-holder and a die movable alone in a common plane, a memberreciprocally movable in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of said blank-holder and die, wedge arms projecting from said member and coacting with the die to impart reciprocatory movements thereto upon a movement of said member, and wedge means projecting from said member and coacting with the blank-holder to impart reciprocatory movements thereto and to cause it to dwell during a portion of the movements of the die, and means resisting a thrust in one direction of the die and blank-holder on said arms and wedge means, respectively.

11. In combination, a blank-holder, a die movable relative thereto and having a plurality of sections arranged side by side, and means operable in one plane to effect a movement of the blank-holder and movable die in a different plane and for causing the blank-holder to remain at rest in work gripping position during a portion of the movement of the die.

12. In combination, a stationary die, a blank-holder movable toward and away from said die and having a plurality of relatively movable sections, a die movable toward and away from said stationary die and having a plurality of relatively movable sections, and mechanism operable to impart predetermined movements to said blank-holder and movable die in a common plane, the blank-holder being movable to grip a work piece to the stationary die and then standing at rest during the work shaping action of the movable die.

13. In combination, a multiple section movable die, a blank-holder having parts embracing said movable die, and mechanism movable in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of said blank-holder and die and operable to move the blank-holder and die to and from work coacting position and to cause the blank-holder to stand at rest in blank holding position during a portion of the movement of the die.

14. In combination, a blank-holder having spaced work gripping portions each of which is composed of a plurality of connected relatively movable sections, a die movably mounted between said portions and comprising a plurality of relatively movable sections, means for imparting predetermined movements to the blank-holder and its sections to grip and release a work piece, and means for imparting predetermined movements to said die and its sections to act on a Work piece, the blank-holder and die movements being parallel, the blankholder standing at rest during a portion of the movement of said die.

15. In combination, a stationary die, a blank-holder guided for reciprocatory movements and having a multiple section work gripping portion, the sections thereof being relatively movable, means operable to cause relative contracting and expanding movements of the blank-holder sections to grip and release a work piece relative to said die, a movable die, and means for moving said die to and from said stationary die parallel with the movements of the blank holder, the blank-holder standing at dwell during a portion of the movement of said movable 16. In combination, a blank-holder having a wedge section and a plurality of sections connected to and movable relative to the wedge section by movements of said wedge section, a die, means operable to impart predetermined movements to said wedge section to move said connected sections to grip and release a work piece, and means operable to move said die in the plane of movements of the blank holder to act on a work piece, the blank-holder standing at rest during a portion of the movement of said die.

17. In a mechanism of the character described, a reciprocally movable die having a plurality of sections, one section having sliding wedge like coaction with the other sections whereby movements of the wedge like part in one direction will relatively collapse the sections and a movement thereof in the opposite direction will relatively expand the sections, and means operable to act on the wedge part of said die to control the movements of the die sections.

18. In a mechanism of the character described, a stationary die, a blank-holder movable toward and away from said die and having a plurality of connected relatively movable sections, one of which has a wedge like action on the other sections, a multiple section die, one section of which has wedge like action on the other section, means operable to move the wedge-like section of the blank-holder to contract and expand the blank-holder sections relative to said stationary die, and means for moving the wedge like part of the die sections to contract and expand said sections relative to the stationary die.

19. In combination, a blank-holder having a plurality of relatively movable work gripping sections, the movements of one section controlling the movements of the other sections, a die having a plurality of relatively movable sections, the movement of one section controlling the movements of the other sections, and mechanism operable to act on the respective control sections of said blank-holder and die to impart predetermined blank holding and releasing movements to the blank-holder sections and predetermined work shaping and retracting movements to the die sections.

20. In combination, a bed-plate having a recess, a stationary die forming one wall of said recess, a blank-holder mounted in said recess and guided thereby for movements toward and away from said die, a movable die mounted in said recess for movements toward and away from said die, and means movable in a different plane from the plane of movement of said blank-holder and die for imparting predetermined movements to the blank-holder and die.

21. In combination, a bed-plate forming a recess, one wall of which serves as a stationary shaping die, a blank-holder mounted for reciprocatory movements in said recess toward and away from the said die, said blank-holder having upper and lower blank holding portions each of multiple section Copies of this patent may be obtained for form with the sections thereof slidingly connected and one having a wedge-like expanding and contracting action on the others when the blank-holder is moved in one direction or the other, a movable die mounted between said blank-holder portions and having sections similar to the blank-holder sections and in sliding connection, with one section having a wedge-like action on the other sections to expand and contract the die relative to the stationary die when the wedge section of said die is moved, and mechanism operable to impart predetermined reciprocatory movements to the wedge sections of said blank-holder and movable die to cause them to have movements toward and away from said station ary die, and guide means coacting with the outer sections of the blank-holder and movable die to cooperate with the Wedge parts thereof in controlling the movements of the respective sections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONHARD BAUROTH.

Witnesses:

F. E. AUL, R. G. ALLEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

